The holidays make us yearn for a holiday getaway in a snowy cottage sitting next to the fireplace with a hot cup of cocoa. This is the vibe one would feel instantly with one glance at Stanyard’s Cottage.

Alter & Company was tasked with renovating a series of outbuildings situated alongside the 400-year-old Grade II listed Stanyard’s Cottage to create a unified theme to connect the historic building with the modern and playful updates.

One of the key updates is an angular glass volume that bridges the space between the main house and the outbuildings while retaining the visual connection between the yards on either side. “This reflective and transparent tunnel purposely stands out as a new piece of connective architecture," the architects added. By its very nature, it implies a type of 'time travel' – from a rural historical past to a new modern playful present and future.

The renovations also feature several sustainable elements, such as using reclaimed barn cladding from Canada for the kid’s bedroom, sourcing interior oak feature posts and frames around the main sliding door from a local reclamation yard, and repurposing the kid’s toys (Atari joystick, Rhino head, etc.) as light switches, door handles, and clothing hooks.

Other interior design elements resonate with the design highlight that is the angular volume, namely the steel staircase and other whimsical elements that remind us of the numerous fairytales we grew up with.

The walls within the renovated outbuildings also juxtapose the old and new, contrasting rustic wooden interiors with modern 3D patterns elevating a simple white wall.

Steel walkways bridging second-floor spaces maintain an airy feeling to the overall space, keeping sight lines open no matter where you are in the building. Pot lighting gently lights up interior spaces where sunlight has trouble reaching, and large format windows in playful shapes reinforce the objective of creating a modern, whimsical space.

The dining table sports an efficient design with storage consoles that double as seating neatly tucked underneath the table when it’s not in use. A hidden storage space has been built into the rustic wooden walls, where the owner has stored their collection of vinyl records and a record player. One can only imagine how leisurely life at the Stanyard’s Cottage must be, with the soothing music of a vinyl record playing in the backyard as one enjoys some much-deserved downtime swaying in the hammock above the hallway.

Both the historic and newly renovated delightful interiors will captivate both the minds of the mature and the youthful, this is what makes Stanyard’s Cottage such a special place. Whether blanketed by snow or bathed in sunlight, the cottage looks as if it has emerged straight from a fairytale, and we can’t think of a more unique space to cozy up throughout the year.

PROJECT DETAILS

Architects: Atler & Company

Project Location: London, United Kingdom

Completion Date: 2017

Building Levels: 2

Photos courtesy of Alter & Company